The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]


Sometimes Technology Scares Me …

… no, I’m not talking about the fact a t-shirt company was able to use my data from Facebook and serve me an ad of a product featuring my hometown and my favourite band …

… I’m talking about the fact they think I would want to be seen in that t-shirt.

Yes, I know I have the taste of a 1980’s Australian pub singer, but even I wouldn’t wear that.

Big data might help companies get an idea of what their audience do, but it fails to understand what they like.

For all it’s cleverness, the way the data is interpreted – and used – by so many companies is embarrassingly simplistic.

Not simple. Simplistic.

A strategy of simply mashing random interests together is not a strategy, it’s an embarrassment.

Jesus …


22 Comments so far
Leave a comment

Guess what I am getting you for your birthday.

Comment by George

I know they say it’s the thought that counts, but they’re wrong.

Comment by Rob

In all seriousness, this is fantastic.

“Big data might help companies get an idea of what their audience do, but it fails to understand what they like. For all it’s cleverness, the way the data is interpreted – and used – by so many companies is embarrassingly simplistic.Not simple. Simplistic. A strategy of simply mashing random interests together is not a strategy, it’s an embarrassment.”

Comment by George

youre not fooling any fucker with your attempt to make strategy sound more than shoving your finger in the air then shouting “that way.”

Comment by andy@cynic

I hope the back of the ugliest tee with the most stupid starement written on the front says on the back “technology made me buy this”.

Comment by DH

All this talk about AI (http://blog.else-corp.com/2017/03/the-future-of-ai-in-fashion-everything-is-ai/) then you show the reality with this. For once Rob, good work.

Comment by DH

AI is the future. It’s just not the near future.

Comment by John

at the moment it should be called nottingham intelligence.

Comment by andy@cynic

It’s called ‘artificial intelligence’ for a reason.

Comment by Rob

Are you talking about the technology or Nottingham?

Comment by DH

Fucking ugly. And I’m not just talking about the shit t-shirt.

Comment by Billy Whizz

The company with the best data will win. Facebook doesn’t have it.

Comment by John

So the Russian government will.

Comment by Bazza

Data not dachas,

Comment by John

Queen are a lot of things but they’re not fashionable, even if you’re from Nottingham. This post has runined my career.

Comment by Bazza

its ok baz, you have fucking millions of $10 bills to cry your sad little tears into. fucker.

Comment by andy@cynic

Andy said it best …
[Sorry Baz]

Comment by Rob

as fucking always.

Comment by andy@cynic

Freddie Mercury had very interesting wardrobe choices and I would imagine even he would regard that item of clothing a step too far.

Comment by Lee Hill

To paraphrase William Gibson: “Taste is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed’.

Comment by Ian Gee

for NOW you’re totally right, but that’s just the beginning of a development that’s gone exponential recently (which makes the idea of a NOW obsolete somehow).
In 10 years we will have ‘autonomous’ planning and a CD that’s an AI … (which makes the idea of advertising obsolete somehow).

Comment by Brothel Pianist

I know that … as a great tech reviewer said, “you must resist judging new technology by the standards of fully explored technology”.

The problem is our industry hypes up everything in a bid to look cutting edge which only results in us looking foolish when things are still in development phase and we’ve done nothing to help with their progression.

And then you can bet someone outside the industry will do something genuinely awesome with the tech leaving the ad industry to look for the next under-developed idea to claim ownership over.

I’m not anti AI … i’m anti the hype adland gives it without doing anything to help it.

But thanks Brothel Pianist … even your name is perfect for this blog, ha!

Comment by Rob




Leave a Reply